Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-29
FOR THELOVE OF LEE
CEREx0NIHs AT THE BEGINNING OF
TIE MONUMENT IN OCTOBER.
Lee Camp to Take Charge OF the Pro-
gramme for this Grand
Occasion.

Occasion.
The greatest crowd OF people ever
soen in Richmond was on the occasion
of the unveiling of the statue OF Stone
wall Jackson in October, 1875. And yet
it was nothing to that which will be here
at the dedication OF the Lee-monument
site IN October There were more peo-
pie here in 1875 than could be accom-
modated. Many could find no beds
that night. Some went away not well
pleased. They had not had the fore
thought to secure quarters Tor them
selves in advance, and very readily put
the blame on the community instead OF
accepting it for themselves.
When you count up the number OF
hotels and boarding-houses here you
will see that altogether they can shelter
and feed o very few thousand. There
fore, the houses of the people must be
thrown open to the visiting public, and
those who are so placed as to make 1t
possible must take boarders-take
them not for the sake Of gain, but for
the credit of tie community. Thou
sands Of families here will hNe friends
from the country To stay with them.
Others will not, and these can and
should take boarders.
So much for civilian visitors.
Military companies are going to come
here from all the South and from Mary
land. How will these be quartered ?
There is but one way-in camps. Get
the tents and put the military in Aliens
field near the baseball grounds, or Mt
the New reservoir, or at the Fair
Grounds, or at Chimborazo.
ENTERTAINMENT.
How will the strangers be enter
tanned? Well, they will take part in
the dedicatory ceremonies, and that
will dispose Of one day. For the Hight
there ought to be some snowy pagean-
tries and grand display of fireworks
nothing like We have had for some
years of late, but something up to the
high. water mark Of the times. As long
as the military are here they should be
we'll entertained, but have one grand
day, ard the rest comes easily.
Another thing, Richmond should be
well decorated. 1t never did itself
credit in this line but once, and that
was in 1SS1-at the Yorktown celebra-
tion. when the arches and statues, &c,
put here and there on the streets made
the city look like great European
capital.
"But all this will take money? "
Right. SO it willard Il great deal OF
it. But we can and we will raise it.
Here we are now to begin the erection
of monument to Lee here We are to
have the presence of ex-Presitent
Davis here We are inviting the soldiers
| Of the South to revisit the scenes con
secratcd by their yalOr and devotion,
and We must make IA prcsentable ap
pearance, and must give cordial wei
come and hospitablc entertainment to
all comers, especially to our southern
soldier brcthren-mcn, and sons OF
men. who formed the lines of defence
which successfully encircled Richmond
for four years.
There are thousands of things to do
and little time to do them. We must
speedily go to work.
LEE CAMP TO THE FRONT.
On behalf Of the Monument Associa-
ton TIE Governor has invited Lee
| Camp of Confederate Veterans to take
charge Of the ceremonies OF the day.
whether called cornerstone laying
or "dodicatiou OF the grounds aud
the camp will have meeting to-
night to hear the views OF the
Governor. This IS good move. ltis
altogether proper that the OLD
soldiers OF Lee should be the leaders
in this enterprise. They have gooi
organization they are active and
zealousand have the prestige Of success
in their undertakings. ii they consent
to assume this sacred charge and great
work they must have-they will have
the support Of all classes Of the com
munity, and auxiliary organizations
can be formed to help them on.
| THE CEREMONIES.
The monument is to be erected ana
the statue to be cast from designs of the
French sculptor MerciG.
1t may not be possible by the 2}th
| Of October TO have the plans 80 aG-
vanced that the actual cornerstone OF
the monument can be laid if not, the
ceremonies will be dedicatory OF the
grounds. No matter-it will be great
| day, and Richmond must summon all
| her resources and ingenuity 10 do her
self the greatest possible credit. Ii we
are prepared TO house them, We may
have from 80, 600 to 40, 900 visitors here
that day.
The orator of the occasion will be
Colonel Charles Marshall. who was on
General Lees staff and whose personal
knowledge of the great leader aud
whose oratorical and literary ability
| will qualify him for the task.
! THE sITB.
The monument Will be put on the
Allen lot. at the west end Of Franklin
street The ground has been decided
and tie Monument Association has a.
cepted the gift and contracted to erect
the monument there. The property
around the site will be laid off into ave
nues and streets and building lots. Mr..
Burgwyn has made the plans, and un-
der his direction the work OF grading
will be at once commenced, the con
tract therefor having already been let.
LOWERED CHAPEL.